Turn Turn (t[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Turned}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Turning}.] [OE. turnen, tournen, OF. tourner, torner,
turner, F. tourner, LL. tornare, fr. L. tornare to turn in a
lathe, to rounds off, fr. tornus a lathe, Gr. ? a turner's
chisel, a carpenter's tool for drawing circles; probably akin
to E. throw. See {Throw}, and cf. {Attorney}, {Return},
{Tornado}, {Tour}, {Tournament}.]
1. To cause to move upon a center, or as if upon a center; to
give circular motion to; to cause to revolve; to cause to
move round, either partially, wholly, or repeatedly; to
make to change position so as to present other sides in
given directions; to make to face otherwise; as, to turn a
wheel or a spindle; to turn the body or the head.
[1913 Webster]

God will make these evils the occasion of a greater
good, by turning them to advantage in this world.
--Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]

When the passage is open, land will be turned most
to cattle; when shut, to sheep. --Sir W.
Temple.
[1913 Webster]

5. To change the form, quality, aspect, or effect of; to
alter; to metamorphose; to convert; to transform; -- often
with to or into before the worddenoting the effect or
product of the change; as, to turn a worm into a winged
insect; to turn green to blue; to turn prose into verse;
to turn a Whig to a Tory, or a Hindu to a Christian; to
turn good to evil, and the like.
[1913 Webster]

We turn not back the silks upon the merchants,
When we have soiled them. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
(b) To cause to return or retrace one's steps; hence, to
drive away; to repel. --Shak.

{To turn down}.
(a) To fold or double down.
(b) To turn over so as to conceal the face of; as, to turn
down cards.
(c) To lower, or reduce in size, by turning a valve,
stopcock, or the like; as, turn down the lights.

{To turn in}.
(a) To fold or double under; as, to turn in the edge of
cloth.
(b) To direct inwards; as, to turn the toes in when
walking.
(c) To contribute; to deliver up; as, he turned in a large
amount. [Colloq.]

{To turn in the mind}, to revolve, ponder, or meditate upon;
-- with about, over, etc. `` Turn these ideas about in
your mind.'' --I. Watts.

{To turn over}.
(a) To change or reverse the position of; to overset; to
overturn; to cause to roll over.
(b) To transfer; as, to turn over business to another
hand.
(c) To read or examine, as a book, while, turning the
leaves. ``We turned o'er many books together.''
--Shak.
(d) To handle in business; to do business to the amount
of; as, he turns over millions a year. [Colloq.]

{To turn up}.
(a) To turn so as to bring the bottom side on top; as, to
turn up the trump.
(b) To bring from beneath to the surface, as in plowing,
digging, etc.
(c) To give an upward curve to; to tilt; as, to turn up
the nose.

Look at other dictionaries:

To turn upon — Turn Turn, v. i. 1. To move round; to have a circular motion; to revolve entirely, repeatedly, or partially; to change position, so as to face differently; to whirl or wheel round; as, a wheel turns on its axis; a spindle turns on a pivot; a man… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

To pass upon — Pass Pass, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Passed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Passing}.] [F. passer, LL. passare, fr. L. passus step, or from pandere, passum, to spread out, lay open. See {Pace}.] 1. To go; to move; to proceed; to be moved or transferred from one… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

To double upon — Double Dou ble, v. i. 1. To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or value; to increase or grow to twice as much. [1913 Webster] T is observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years, notwithstanding … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English